Self cleaning computer pointer or mouse

ABSTRACT

A computer pointer is disclosed comprised of a housing having an aperture and a ball rollably mounted within the housing so that a portion of the ball is accessible through the aperture in the housing so that force can be exerted on the ball through the aperture to induce the ball to rotate within the housing. The pointer is further comprised of at least one rotating position member having an outer surface, the at least one rotating position member being mounted within the housing and frictionally engaged on a first side with the ball so that rolling motion of the ball results in corresponding rotation of the at least one rotating position member. Further, the computer pointer is comprised of a cleaning member mounted within the housing so as to be positioned adjacent a second side of the at least one rotating position member so that debris that is adhering to the outer surface of the at least one rotating position member is dislodged from the outer surface of the at least one rotating position member as the at least one rotating position member rotates in response to the rolling motion of the ball. In addition, a method of using a computer mouse is disclosed including the acts of inducing a ball within a housing to move resulting in the rotation of at least one rotating position member thereby causing a cleaning member adjacent to the at least one rotating position member to dislodge debris that is adhering to the outer surface of the at least one rotating position member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to computer pointer cleaning implements. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a computer pointer cleaner, anda method of using a mouse incorporating a computer pointer cleaner.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

It is common for computers to be operated with electro-mechanicalpointing devices, such as a mouse. In addition to performing otherfunctions, a mouse is used to move the position of a cursor on acomputer screen. Generally, a user slides a mouse across a flat surfacesuch as a desktop causing the cursor on the computer screen to changeposition.

In particular, in a typical mouse, a ball positioned within the mouseand protruding partially from the bottom surface of the mouse rotates asthe mouse is moved across a surface. As the mouse is moved, the ballfrictionally engages rotating position members within the mouse causingthe position members to rotate. The rotational movement of the positionmembers, in turn, cause sensors within the mouse to generate signalsindicative of the rotational position of the position members. Thesignals are sent to the computer which uses the signals toproportionately move a cursor on the computer display to a new position.

For the mouse to operate properly, the ball and position members withinthe mouse housing should generally be kept clean and free of lint, dirt,oil and other debris. Otherwise, the rotational movement of the ball andthe members will be impeded. However, the constant movement of the mouseacross a surface causes the ball to pick up debris and foreign matterfrom the surface which can then be transferred onto the position memberswithin the mouse. The accumulation of debris on the position members caneventually cause the mouse to function poorly.

To clear debris from the inner components, the mouse can be disassembledand the individual components cleaned. However, many users neglect toregularly clean the components of the mouse. In fact, many users neverclean the internal components. Consequently, the accumulated debris onthe ball and the position members eventually build up preventingaccurate operation of the mouse. As a result, movement of the cursor onthe screen will fail to properly correspond to the movement of the mouseacross a surface.

To address the problems associated with the accumulation of dirt anddebris within a mouse, a number of cleaning implements have beendesigned. For example, one cleaning implement is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,760,618 to Chapin, Jr. This patent discloses a mouse having amouse ball that is covered in hook and loop material and the ball can berolled over a surface of mating hook and loop material to clean theball. As a result, debris within the mouse is picked up by the hook andloop material on the ball and is then transferred to the surface withmating hook and loop material. However, this system requires that theuser disassemble the mouse, remove the ball, cover the mouse inhook-and-loop material, reassemble the mouse, and slide the mouse andsheathed ball across a special surface. Subsequently, the mouse must bedisassembled again and the ball unsheathed to resume normal operation.Because of these cumbersome use requirements, users are unlikely to usethis device at sufficiently regular intervals to avoid the accumulationof debris on the inner components of the mouse. Consequently, debriswill accumulate within the mouse and interfere with the properfunctioning of the mouse.

Other implements for cleaning a computer mouse include curved elongatedbrushes that can slide into the mouse housing such as is described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,418,999 to Smith. The Smith device requires that theuser disassemble the mouse, remove components, manually brush outdebris, and reassemble the mouse. Accordingly, individuals are alsounlikely to perform these various steps on any type of a regular basiswhich would prevent the accumulation of debris within the mouse housingthereby eventually causing the mouse to perform poorly.

Another cleaning system, such as the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,615,438 to Field, employs a spherical container with a tacky interiorlining. In that system, a roller ball is placed in the container andmoved around to enable the tacky liner to collect debris on the ball.However, this device also requires that the user disassemble the mouse,remove the ball, place the ball in a container with a tacky liner, andmove the container around so that the ball within the container rolls.The tacky liner within the container removes debris from the surface ofthe ball thereby cleaning the ball. The user then has to reassemble themouse. Accordingly, like the devices described above, the devicedisclosed in the '438 patent requires that the user perform a number oftasks in order to clean the ball. Again, many users are unlikely toregularly disassemble the mouse and clean the components. Anotherdisadvantage of this device is that it only cleans the ball and not anyof the other components of the mouse.

Another mouse cleaning device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,845 toChait. This patent discloses a device which uses a gasket formed bynetting material that is attached to an absorbent pad which ispositioned between the roller ball and an exterior retaining clip. Asthe ball rolls, the gasket net scrapes debris from the surface of theball while the absorbent pad collects moisture, oil and the debrisscraped from the ball by the net. As a result, some debris is removedfrom the ball. However, this device is ineffective as it requires thatthe user periodically replace the used absorbent pad and net with a newabsorbent pad and net. Specifically, the gasket will eventually besaturated with dirt and debris limiting its effectiveness at keeping themouse clean. If not replaced, the accumulated debris on the absorbentpad and net may eventually be transferred back to the ball andsubsequently transferred to other mouse components such as rotatingposition members, and ultimately affecting operation of the mouse.Further, as the gasket becomes worn and its effectiveness decreases,debris will increasingly not be picked up by the gasket and will betransferred to the other mouse components such as rotating positionmember thereby, again, affecting proper operation of the mouse. Further,as the gasket becomes worn and its effectiveness decreases, debris willincreasingly not be picked up by the gasket and will be transferred tothe other mouse components where it can impair the operability of themouse.

Hence, the prior art devices are inadequate for cleaning a computermouse as they require too much effort on the part of the user, and theyfail to consistently and reliably remove debris and other particles fromthe components within a mouse housing while the mouse is in use.Specifically, these devices require the user to periodically perform anumber of cleaning steps to clean the mouse which many users will notdo. Moreover, the prior art devices are designed to clean either theball or the interior of the mouse housing, but fail to clear debris fromthe rollers within the mouse housing.

Accordingly, there remains a need for cleaning device that clears debrisfrom the components within a mouse while the mouse is in normal use insuch a manner that the cleaning apparatus is less likely to be clogged,and does not require any user intervention beyond normal use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the invention which is acomputer pointer comprised of a housing having an aperture and a ballrollably mounted within the housing so that a portion of the ball isaccessible through the aperture in the housing, in a manner permittingforce to be exerted on the ball through the aperture to induce the ballto rotate within the housing. The pointer is further comprised of atleast one rotating position member having an outer surface, the at leastone rotating position member being mounted within the housing andfrictionally engaged on a first side with the ball so that rollingmotion of the ball results in corresponding rotation of the at least onerotating position member. Further, the computer pointer is comprised ofa cleaning member mounted within the housing so as to be positionedadjacent a second side of the at least one rotating position member sothat debris that is adhering to the outer surface of the at least onerotating position member is dislodged from the outer surface of the atleast one rotating position member as the at least one rotating positionmember rotates in response to the rolling motion of the ball.

In addition, a method of using a computer mouse is disclosed includingthe acts of inducing a ball within a housing to move in a manner thatinduces the rotation of at least one rotating position member andthereby causes a cleaning member adjacent to the at least one rotatingposition member to dislodge debris that is adhering to the outer surfaceof the at least one rotating position member.

The computer pointer is thus able to clean debris off of the movingparts while the pointer is being used, thus reducing the need todisassemble the pointer for cleaning. In one embodiment, the computerpointer with the cleaning member is adapted to be used as a mouse thatis moved across a surface. Alternatively, the computer pointer can beconfigured to be a trackball type pointer where the user moves thetrackball by hand. These and other objects and advantages of theinvention will become more fully apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer system with a computerpointer or mouse;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mouse of FIG. 1 with one embodimentof a rotating position member cleaner of the invention shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mouse with the position membercleaner of FIG. 2, taken along line 3—3; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mouse with the position membercleaner of FIG. 2, taken along line 4—4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout. FIG. 1 illustrates a computer pointer 12positioned on a surface 60 and used in conjunction with a computer 50,keyboard 52, and monitor 54. As will be discussed in greater detailbelow, the pointer 10, which is connected to the computer 50, rollsacross the surface 60 and generates a signal that causes a cursor 58 ona computer screen 56 to move. When the pointer 10 moves across thesurface 60, debris, including lint, oil and dirt, from the surface 60accumulate on the internal components within the pointer 10 therebyinterfering with the proper operation of the pointer 10. As will bediscussed in greater detail below in reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, thepointer 10 of this embodiment is adapted to clean this debris frommoving surfaces within the pointer 10 to enhance the longevity of thepointer 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a pointer 10 which, in the illustrated embodiment, iscomprised of a well-known mouse having a housing 12 that defines aninterior cavity 13. A roller assembly 20 and cleaning members 30 a, 30 bare positioned within the cavity 13. The roller assembly 20, in turn, iscomprised of a ball 22 positioned between and in rolling contact withtwo cylindrical rotating position members 26 a, 26 b and a biasingmember 24. Sensors 28 a, 28 b are respectively coupled to the positionmembers 26 a, 26 b so as to sense the rotational positions of therotating position members 26 a, 26 b and provide position signalsindicative thereof in a manner known in the art. The sensors 28 a, 28 bprovide these position signals to the computer 50 via the cord 18 andthese signals are used by the computer 50 to control the position of thecursor 58 on the screen 56 in a manner known in the art. Further, thecleaning members 30 a, 30 b are also positioned adjacent to the rotatingposition members 26 a, 26 b and are adapted to dislodge debris from themembers 26 a, 26 b gathered by the ball 22 and transferred to themembers 26 a, 26 b in the manner that will be described in greaterdetail below.

Specifically, FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the pointer 10and illustrate an embodiment of the rolling assembly 20 and the cleaningmembers 30 a, 30 b positioned within the housing 12. A ball 22 ispositioned within the cavity 13 of the housing 12 adjacent a bottomsurface 11 of the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottomsurface 11 of the housing 12 includes a removable retainer 14 having anopening 15. The retainer 14 is removable so as to provide access to theinternal cavity 13 of the mouse 10. The opening 15 in the retainer 14 issufficiently large to permit the ball 22 to extend partiallytherethrough and to contact the surface 60, enabling the ball 22 to rollalong a surface 60 and operate the roller assembly 20 within the cavity13.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotating position members 26 a, 26 bare positioned adjacent the ball 22. A biasing member 24 is positionedgenerally opposite the opening 15 so as to bear against the ball 22 tourge the ball 22 into a position where the ball 22 protrudes through theopening 15 and is in frictional engagement with the rotating positionmembers 26 a, 26 b. The ball 22 rotates as the housing 12 of the pointer10 is moved over the surface 60 in a manner that is known in the art.

The rotating position members 26 a, 26 b are captured within the housing12 so that at least one rotating position member rotates about an axisof rotation that is generally normal to the direction of rotationalmotion of the ball 22. In this embodiment, the housing has recesses 17that receive the ends 27 of the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b ina manner that permits rotation of the rotating position members 26 a, 26b. The frictional engagement between the rotating position members 26 a,26 b and the ball 22 results in the rotation of the position members 26a, 26 b being proportionate to the degree of rolling motion of the ball22 in a direction normal to the plane of the rotating position members26 a, 26 b.

As discussed above, the sensors 28 a, 28 b sense the rotational positionof the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b and provide signalsindicative thereof to the computer 50. Hence, by moving the housing 12over the surface 60 so as to change the X and Y position of the pointer10 on the surface 60, the user can send signals to the computer 50 thatthe computer 50 can use to adjust the corresponding X and Y position ofthe cursor 58 on the screen 56. The operation of the pointer 10 in thisrespect is substantially similar to the operation of many well known andcommercially available pointers.

The cleaning members 30 a, 30 b are positioned within the housing 12 soas to be located immediately adjacent one side of the rotating positionmembers 26 a, 26 b. In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning members30 a, 30 b are generally elongated elements each having a first end 32and a second end 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end 34 isattached to the interior surface 15 of the housing 12, while the firstend 32 extends outward from and in a direction normal to the interiorsurface 15 of the housing 12 with the tip thereof positioned adjacentthe rollers 26 a, 26 b. As is also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the firstends 32 of the cleaning members 30 a and 30 b are preferably tapered soas to define a tip 33 a and 33 b which is positioned immediatelyadjacent the outer surface of the rotating members 26 a, 26 b.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tips 33 a, 33 b of thecleaning members 30 a, 30 b are positioned so as to be immediatelyadjacent a side 27 a, 27 b of the rotating members 26 a, 26 b that isopposite the side of the rotating members 26 a, 26 b that is in contactwith the ball 22. The tips 33 a, 33 b of the cleaning members 30 a, 30 bare of sufficient width to be immediately adjacent a substantial lengthof the rotating members 26 a, 26 b. In one embodiment, the width of thetips 33 a, 33 b of the cleaning members 30 a, 30 b is at leastone-eighth of the length of the rotating members 26 a, 26 b. In anotherembodiment, the width of the tips 33 a, 33 b is at least one-fourth ofthe length of the rotating members 26 a, 26 b. The narrower the tips 33a, 33 b, the less friction that will be generated by the tips 33 a, 33 bcontacting the rotating members 26 a, 26 b. Moreover, as shown in FIGS.3 and 4, the cleaning members 30 a, 30 b are mounted to the interiorwall 15 so as to extend outward such that the tips 33 a, 33 b arepositioned adjacent the outer circumference of the rotating members 26a, 26 b at a height that is higher than the axis of rotation of therotating members 26 a, 26 b.

The operation of the automatic mouse cleaners 30 a, 30 b will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. As illustrated in FIG. 1,the pointer 10 is moved across a surface 60 by the user. The movement ofthe pointer 10, results in corresponding movement of the cursor 58 onthe computer screen 56. Moreover, movement of the pointer 10 across asurface 60 causes the ball 22 to rollably move in the housing. Becausethe biasing member 24 holds the ball 22 in frictional engagement withthe rotating position members 26 a, 26 b, movement of the ball 22compels the members 26 a, 26 b to rotate. As the members 26 a, 26 brotate, the sensors 28 a, 28 b sense the change of position of themembers 26 a, 26 b and send a signal to the computer 50 as to theprecise movement of the members 26 a, 26 b. This signal, in turn, causesthe cursor 58 on the computer screen 56 to move proportionately to themovement of the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b within the housing12.

In addition to causing the cursor 58 on the screen 56 to move, therotation of the members 26 a, 26 b, in conjunction with the cleaningmembers 30 a, 30 b, also operates to clean the members 26 a, 26 b. Inparticular, as the members 26 a, 26 b rotate, the cleaning members 30 a,30 b scrape away and dislodge debris from the surface of the members 26a, 26 b.

In one embodiment, the tips 33 a, 33 b of the cleaning members 30 a, 30b are made of a plastic material and are positioned so as to be touchingthe outer surface of the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b. Thisresults in the debris, adhering to the outer surface of the rotatingposition members 26 a, 26 b, being scraped away by the tips 33 a, 33 bof the cleaning members 30 a, 30 b. The use of tapered cleaning membersreduces the frictional engagement between the cleaning members 30 a, 30b and the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b thereby allowing thecleaning members 30 a, 30 b to clean the rotating position members 26 a,26 b without unduly hindering rotation of the rotating position members26 a, 26 b as a result of movement of the pointer 10 over the surface60. Specifically, a tapered member reduces the surface area of aninterface between the rotating position member 26 and the cleaningmember 30 where debris could lodge and ultimately hinder operation ofthe device.

In another embodiment, the tips 33 a, 33 b of the cleaning members 30 a,30 b are positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the rotatingposition members 26 a, 26 b but do not actually contact the outersurface. The tips 33 a, 33 b of the cleaning members 30 a, 30 b arepositioned sufficiently close to the rotating position members 26 a, 26b to dislodge accumulated debris from the outer surface of the rotatingposition members 26 a, 26 b.

In the illustrated embodiment, debris is dislodged from the rotatingposition members 26 a, 26 b and preferably falls to the bottom surface15 of the housing 12 in a location in the housing 12 where the debris isnot proximate to any rotating surfaces such as the ball 22 or theposition members 26. Hence, the debris desirably falls to the bottomsurface 15 of the housing 12 where it settles and is less likely tohinder proper operation of the pointer 10.

As discussed above, in the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning members30 a, 30 b are located so that the tips 33 a, 33 b are adjacent theouter surface of the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b at a heightthat is below the height of the axis of rotation of the rotatingposition members 26 a, 26 b. This placement of the cleaning members 30a, 30 b results in dislodged the debris falling directly from therotating position members 26 a, 26 b to the bottom surface 15 of thehousing 12. Should the cleaning members 30 a, 30 b be positionedadjacent the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b at a position abovethe axis of rotation of the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b,dislodged debris may be impeded by the cleaning members 26 a, 26 b fromfalling to the bottom surface 15 of the housing and, in turn, may resultin the debris accumulating and adhering once more to the outer surfaceof the rotating position members 26 a, 26 b. Therefore, with thecleaning members 30 a, 30 b positioned below the axis of rotation,dislodged debris is less likely to be impeded from falling and,consequently, dislodged debris is less likely to continue to accumulateand adhere to the outer surface of the rotating position members 26 a,26 b.

It will be appreciated that with the rotating position members 26 a, 26b clean and free of accumulated debris, the members 26 a, 26 b are moresensitive to movement of the ball 22. This increased sensitivity, inturn, results in more precise corresponding movement of the cursor 58 onthe computer screen 56. It will be appreciated that the dislodging ofdebris from the position members 26 a, 26 b is performed while the mouse10 is in use. Moreover, it is not necessary for the mouse 10 to bedisassembled for the rollers 26 a, 26 b to be cleaned. Accordingly, theillustrated cleaning members 30 a, 30 b automatically clean the positionmembers 26 a, 26 b in a mouse 10 without the user having to disassemblethe mouse 10 or perform any steps in addition to normal use of the mouse10.

Although the foregoing description of the invention has shown, describedand pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the formof the detail of the apparatus as illustrated as well as the usesthereof, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the present invention. As an example, the illustratedembodiment of the invention has described the invention in connectionwith a mouse that is maneuvered over a surface by a user. It will beappreciated, however, that the invention can also be implemented on atrackball-type pointer where a ball is captured within a cavity and isrotated by the user so as to move a cursor over a surface. Moreover, theillustrated embodiment also defines the cleaning members as beingengaged with the rotational position members, however, a person ofordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the rotational positionmembers can be engaged with any rotating surface that has debrisadhering to it as a result of use of the pointer, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. Consequently, the scope of the invention isnot limited to the foregoing discussion, but is defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer pointer comprising: a housing havingan aperture; a ball rollably mounted within the housing and configuredsuch that a portion of the ball extends through the aperture so thatforce created external to the housing can be exerted on the ball throughthe aperture to induce the ball to rotate within the housing; at leastone rotating position member having an outer surface, the at least onerotating position member being mounted within the housing and engaged ona first side with the ball so that rolling motion of the ball results incorresponding rotation of the at least one rotating position member; acleaning member mounted within the housing so as to be positionedadjacent a second side of the at least one rotating position member sothat debris that is adhering to the outer surface of the at least onerotating position member is dislodged from the outer surface of the atleast one rotating position member by the cleaning member as the atleast one rotating position member rotates in response to the rollingmotion of the ball, wherein the cleaning member comprises a taperedmember that is mounted to the housing so as to extend towards the atleast one rotating position member in a cantilevered fashion; and abiasing member that is mounted within the housing so as to urge the ballinto a first orientation wherein the ball is frictionally engaged withthe at least one rotating position member and the portion of the ballextends through the aperture in the housing.
 2. A computer pointercomprising: a housing having an aperture; a ball rollably mounted withinthe housing and configured such that a portion of the ball extendsthrough the aperture so that force created external to the housing canbe exerted on the ball through the aperture to induce the ball to rotatewithin the housing; at least one rotating position member having anouter surface, the at least one rotating position member being mountedwithin the housing and engaged on a first side with the ball so thatrolling motion of the ball results in corresponding rotation of the atleast one rotating position member; and a cleaning member mounted withinthe housing so as to be positioned adjacent a second side of the atleast one rotating position member so that debris that is adhering tothe outer surface of the at least one rotating position member isdislodged from the outer surface of the at least one rotating positionmember by the cleaning member as the at least one rotating positionmember rotates in response to the rolling motion of the ball, whereinthe cleaning member comprises a tapered member that is mounted to thehousing so as to extend towards the at least one rotating positionmember in a cantilevered fashion.
 3. The pointer of claim 2, wherein thetapered member has a pointed end that is in physical contact with theouter surface of the at least one rotating position member.
 4. Thepointer of claim 2, wherein the tapered member has a pointed end that isspaced-apart from the outer surface of the at least one rotatingposition member.
 5. The pointer of claim 2, wherein the tapered memberis made of a flexible plastic material.
 6. The pointer of claim 2,wherein the tapered member makes contact with the at least one rotatingposition member at a location that is below the axis of rotation of theat least one rotating position member.
 7. A position indicating devicecomprising: a housing defining a cavity and having an opening in a firstsurface; a roller ball positioned within the cavity so that at least aportion of the roller ball extends through the opening of the firstsurface so that the roller ball is rollably movable with respect to thehousing; at least one rotating position member that is rotatably engagedon a first side with the roller ball so as to rotate in response torolling movement of the roller ball over the surface of the rotatingposition member; a sensor connected to the at least one rotatingposition member that senses the rotational position of the at least onerotating position member and provides a signal indicative thereof; acleaning member that is positioned within the housing so as to bepositioned adjacent to a second side of the at least one rotatingposition member wherein the cleaning member is positioned so thatforeign matter that is picked up by the roller ball and transferred tothe at least one rotating member as a result of rolling movement of theball over the surface is dislodged from the rotating position member bythe cleaning member as the at least one rotating position memberrotates, wherein the cleaning member comprises a tapered member that ismounted to the housing so as to extend towards the at least one rotatingposition member in a cantilevered fashion; and a biasing member that ismounted within the housing so as to urge the ball into a firstorientation wherein the ball is frictionally engaged with the at leastone rotating position member and the portion of the ball protrudes outof the opening in the housing.
 8. A position indicating devicecomprising: a housing defining a cavity and having an opening in a firstsurface; a roller ball positioned within the cavity so that at least aportion of the roller ball extends through the opening of the firstsurface so that the roller ball is rollably movable with respect to thehousing; at least one rotating position member that is rotatably engagedon a first side with the roller ball so as to rotate in response torolling movement of the roller ball over the surface of the rotatingposition member; a sensor connected to the at least one rotatingposition member that senses the rotational position of the at least onerotating position member and provides a signal indicative thereof; and acleaning member that is positioned within the housing so as to bepositioned adjacent to a second side of the at least one rotatingposition member wherein the cleaning member is positioned so thatforeign matter that is picked up by the roller ball and transferred tothe at least one rotating member as a result of rolling movement of theball over the surface is dislodged from the rotating position member bythe cleaning member as the at least one rotating position memberrotates, wherein the cleaning member is comprised of a tapered memberthat is mounted to the housing so as to extend towards the at least onerotating position member in a cantilevered fashion.
 9. The positionindicator of claim 8, wherein the tapered member has a pointed end thatis spaced-apart from the outer surface of the at least one rotatingposition member.
 10. The position indicator of claim 8, wherein thetapered member has a pointed end that is in physical contact with theouter surface of the at least one rotating position member.
 11. Theposition indicator of claim 8, wherein the tapered member is made of aflexible plastic material.
 12. The position indicator of claim 8,wherein the tapered member makes contact with the at least one rotatingposition member at a location that is below the axis of rotation of theat least one rotating position member.
 13. A computer pointercomprising: a housing having an aperture; a ball rollably mounted withinthe housing and dimensioned such that a portion of the ball extendsthrough the aperture so that force created external to the housing canbe exerted on the ball through the aperture to induce the ball to rotatewithin the housing; two rotating position members having outer surfaces,the two rotating position members being mounted within the housing andfrictionally engaged on first sides with the ball so that rolling motionof the ball results in corresponding rotation of the two rotatingposition members, the two rotating position members mounted so that theaxes of rotation of the two rotating position members are orthogonal toeach other; two cleaning members mounted within the housing so as to berespectively positioned adjacent second sides of the two rotatingposition members so that debris that is adhering to the outer surfacesof the two rotating position members by the cleaning members as the tworotating position members rotate in response to the rolling motion ofthe ball, wherein the two cleaning members are comprised of taperedmembers that are mounted to the housing so as to extend towards the tworotating position members in a cantilevered fashion; and a biasingmember that is mounted within the housing so as to urge the ball into afirst orientation wherein the ball is frictionally engaged with the tworotating position members and the portion of the ball protrudes out ofthe aperture in the housing.
 14. A computer pointer comprising: ahousing having an aperture; a ball rollably mounted within the housingand dimensioned such that a portion of the ball extends through theaperture so that force created external to the housing can be exerted onthe ball through the aperture to induce the ball to rotate within thehousing; two rotating position members having outer surfaces, the tworotating position members being mounted within the housing andfrictionally engaged on first sides with the ball so that rolling motionof the ball results in corresponding rotation of the two rotatingposition members, the two rotating position members mounted so that theaxes of rotation of the two rotating position members are orthogonal toeach other; and two cleaning members mounted within the housing so as tobe respectively positioned adjacent second sides of the two rotatingposition members so that debris that is adhering to the outer surfacesof the two rotating position members by the cleaning members as the tworotating position members rotate in response to the rolling motion ofthe ball; wherein the two cleaning members are comprised of taperedmembers that are mounted to the housing so as to extend towards the tworotating position members in a cantilevered fashion.
 15. The pointer ofclaim 14, wherein the tapered members have pointed ends that are inphysical contact with the outer surfaces of the two rotating positionmembers.
 16. The pointer of claim 14, wherein the tapered members havepointed ends that are spaced-apart from the outer surfaces of the tworotating position members.
 17. The pointer of claim 14, wherein thetapered members are made of a flexible plastic material.
 18. The pointerof claim 14, wherein the tapered members make contact with the tworotating position members at locations that are below the axis ofrotation of the two rotating position members.
 19. A computer pointercomprising: a first rotational member configured to contact a surfaceand define positional information in response to rotational movement ofsaid first member on said surface; a second member in communication withthe first member so as to obtain positional information therefrom; and acleaning member positioned adjacent a portion of the second member andconfigured to contact and dislodge debris located on a surface of thesecond member in response to movement of said second member, whereinsaid cleaning member is positioned adjacent to said second member only,and wherein said cleaning member is of a generally cantileverconfiguration.